The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-23
TILE INSANE HOSPITAL.

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.HE ~ M.
tM- TIE INSANE HOSPITAL. ~.
Hon. Joseph Sprigg stirs up the Board and
tho Governor with u Pointed Pen.
Hon. Joseph sprigg,of Hardy county,
General Of West Virginia, ono
Of the ansi.Camden leaders and a member
Of tho special committee which recently
investigated the management OF the In.
sane Hospital, han a three.column card In
the Regisler concerning the later inyesti.
CATION by tho Board and tho action Of the
Governor. Mr.. sprigg insis!s tina. "Dr.
Bland admitted all the material implics.
ting facts" that the investigation was fair
aud FREQ from political bias, maintains the
accuracy and justice Of the finding Of the
Special Committee, and adds: l appre.
bend 1t cannot be questioned, in the light
Of the facts, that Governor Wilson, who
should, above all Others, stand and act i'm.
partially In thls matter, hos taken sides
and allied himself to DR.. Bland and his
friends, with the deliberate purpose OF
retaining Or. Bland In his present posi-.
ton, in defiance Of the will Of the Leglsla.
ture, aa expressed in the recent act en-.
powering him to appoint now Board OF
Directors. In executing that Law A8 has
complied with Ito letter and deliberately
violated lis spirit and purpose. Without
considering, and, believe, without read.
Ing the testimony taken before the com.
mittee (ior it was then In the hands OF the
stenographer in the city Of Whecling) but
having, however, the special report before
him, In which tho committee report
Is characterized 90 ''.unfounded and IN.
warranted" he deliberately appointed on
the nuw Board Ave members OF the old
Board, thereby constituting the majority
OF the new Board favorable 10 the election
of Dr.. Bland. Under tho circumatAnces
itiwas undoubtedly the duty OF the chiefex-
ecutive officer OF the State 10 appoint O
new Board OF Directors composed OF
gentlomon OF tho most uuqueHtionsd
character and standing from tho two great
political payties Of tho State, who had not
in advance expressed their opinions On
the subject matter involved. The Cover
nor Is mietaken, ii he imaginea the peo.
ple can DO made to belive that the report
oil the committee ID ''uniounded and ua-
warranted" because OF anything Board
| OF Directors appointed as this one has
been, can sHy on the subject. The PEG
pie will be justified in believing, in the
light OF the facts and circumstances sur
rounding this case, that the new Board Of
Directors was appointed expressly with q
view OF retaining DR.. Bland, regardless Of
HE report OF the committee, the testi-
mony taken by 1t, the will OF the Legisls.
ture or his fitness for the position.
Tho people will believe and, I appre.
hend, will be justidcd in believing that
Governor Wilson, in selecting the Demo-
cratic members OF the new board, has
becn governed by the identical principles
be hes 60 vehemently condemned in Sen.
RtoI Camden. 1t is q little remarkable that
a gentleman who has complained 80 bit.
terly and go recently Of Senator Camden
for excluding from Office ill Democrats
except his personal followers, should him
self DO the very same thing the first OPP
portunity that presents itself. There Is
not, strange TO say, a Camden Democrat
in.the new board. The people expect q
public man to practice the same high
principles he demands from others.
Il Ia immatelial to me personally
whether DR.. Bland 10 retained or not. /
have not the RlishteSt feeling OF personal
malice In the matter, on the contrary l
feel really sorrow for him. lido, however,
feel IA interest in the proper conduct OF
the Hospital and the future succeaa OF the
Democratic party. The Hospital for the
Insane il undoubtedly the most important
institution 10 tbs State. It takes somo-
where Iesr oue.lourth OF the revenues Of
the Stale 10 gupportit. The Superintend.
eAt should possess the uuqueetloned con-
tjdence Of people OF all shsdes OF political
thought. Its government Should be per
iect!y free from political or partisan con-
s!dcrstion. II there BIZ one place in the
State where all s1ch matter should DO
gcrupulousy excluded that place is the
Hospital for the Insane.
The Democratic party will DO held re-
sponHible Tor the acts OF Governor Will
soma administration. II Dr.. Bland is re-
tanned In his present position, in the face
OF the testimony taken before the commit
tee, i. will be with tho connivance or
through the iDstrumentality OF Governor
Wilaon, therefore the people will hold the
Democratic party Responsible therefore,
Governor Wilson in framing his procla-
mgtion-whether it waJ Intentional or not,
it is not for me to coNjecture-carefuIy
excluded from it any mention Of the INST
tiers involved in the late investigation ct
the Hospital. Since the names Of the
gentlemen he has appointed on the new
Board have been made public I'm afraid
that people will conclude be excluded this
subject from his proclamation in the inter-
est OLD Bland. The State hasincurred Icon
siderable expense in taking the testimony
that will bu submitted to the Legislature,
and l insist thst that evidence ought to
be carefully examined and considered BY
the members OF the Senate before confirm
ing those members of the old Board OF
Directors who have been named by Gov
efnOr Wilson Oh the neT Board. II said
arc confirmed the Senate
will virtually decide that the committee
submitted m uDtounded aud unwarrnns-
ed report and that Dr. Bland, &c, arc
bamelees because majority OF the new
Board said go before the Governor ap.
pointed them, and the Democratic party
will DO compelled to rtBuIne the respons;.
bility OF defending this action before the
people OF the SLGle. Can il afford TO do
SO? Hsiore answering in tho affirmative
respectfully advice tho democratic Sena-
tore to carefully examine nnd consider the
testimony which tho Legislature req1ired
the committee 10 take and return ~ il,
ECZEMA, EryRipeiaa, Barbera Itch. etc,
are cured by l'HImer'B "akjn.Succeas." At